CAGLIARI – Inter made it three wins from as many Serie A games as they beat Cagliari 1-2 at the Stadio Sant’Elia this evening. There were big performances all over the park for the Nerazzurri, with Mateo Kovacic the stand-out man after his well-taken opening goal and canny assist for Mauro Icardi’s second proved too much for Cagliari.
It was the home side that threatened first, with Donsah shooting over from a good position. Gianfranco Zola would have been hoping the early effort was the beginning of a Rossoblu onslaught, but nothing could’ve been further from reality. Inter would go on to dominate the first half, with 69% possession, 86% pass accuracy and five shots on goal to Cagliari’s one.
It took just eight minutes for the Nerazzurri to start pounding on the Cagliari door. Guarin made himself a yard of space at the back post, but his spectacular overhead kick was just off target. Ten minutes later, Podolski had perhaps the best chance of the first half. Icardi held the ball up admirably, resisting the challenge of Rossettini to slip the German in. Podolski jinked past two defenders and left Brkic on his behind, but just couldn’t get a shot away. Brozovic managed to force it goalwards, but his effort sailed over – the danger had passed.
Inter could smell blood, however, and Guarin and Santon both tried their luck from distance. Cagliari were very much on the ropes, but Cop did threaten the Nerazzurri area in the 36th minute, only for Campagnaro to step in and avert the danger. Minutes before the half-time whistle, Guarin burst through the Rossoblu midfield, reaching the touchline before dinking a cross back inside for Podolski. The German rose well to meet the ball with a bullet header, but it whistled just over Brkic’s crossbar.
Though it finished goalless at half-time, the Nerazzurri needed just 120 seconds to make the breakthrough when the second half got underway. Kovacic started the move with a lovely back-heel over the top for Icardi, who used his strength to keep the attack alive, before the Croatian schemer pounced on the loose ball to fire Inter into the lead.
The goal served as a wake-up call for the Rossoblu, who threatened through Donsah. The home side managed to build some sustained pressure, with Cossu drawing a wonder save from Carrizo in the Inter goal. Half chances followed for Cossu, M’Poku and Conti, but it was just as Cagliari looked most like equalising that the Nerazzurri struck the hammer blow.
Kovacic turned provider to find Icardi with a pinpoint pass, the Argentine dummying past Capuano to work an angle on his left and fire home past Brkic. Inter could be forgiven for thinking that the match was done and dusted, but Zola’s men had other ideas.
Roared on by the home fans, Cagliari pushed for a goal, and it was on-loan Inter man Longo who got it. From the edge of the area, his right-footed effort cannoned off the post onto Carrizo’s back, trickling over the line and into the net to send the Stadio Sant’Elia into raptures.
It was time for the Nerazzurri to roll up their sleeves and see the job through, and that was exactly what they did, taking the pace out of the game and comfortably repelling the last of the Rossoblu attacks.
CAGLIARI 1-2 INTER (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Kovacic 47, Icardi 68, Carrizo og 74.
CAGLIARI: 44 Brkic; 16 Dessena, 15 Rossettini, 33 Capuano, 8 Avelar; 30 Donsah, 5 Conti, 4 Crisetig (Ceppitelli 72); 40 M'Poku, 7 Cossu (Joao Pedro 67); 90 Cop (Longo 66).
Subs not used: 1 Colombi, 27 Cragno, 2 Gonzalez, 3 Murru, 14 Pisano, 17 Farias, 18 Barella, 22 Husbauer, 37 Diakhitè.
Coach: Gianfranco Zola.
INTER: 30 Carrizo; 14 Campagnaro, 15 Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus, 21 Santon; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic (Hernanes 82); 10 Kovacic (Kuzmanovic 90+3); 9 Icardi, 11 Podolski (Dodo 81).
Subs not used: 46 Berni, 6 Andreolli, 20 Obi, 23 Ranocchia, 28 Puscas, 33 D'Ambrosio, 91 Shaqiri, 93 Dimarco.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Booked: Brozovic 14, Cop 39, Campagnaro 89, Avelar 90+1.
Added time: 0 + 4 mins.
Referee: Mazzoleni.
Assistants: Giallatini, Pegorin.
Fourth official: Dobosz.
Additional assistants: Doveri, Ghersini.
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LE PAROLE DI MANCINI DOPO CAGLIARI INTER
